Faerûnian Prestige Class : Triadic Knight
"We are few, but our resolve can break the spine of any fiend." -Haelimbrar, Triadic Knight and Servant of the Lords of Imphras II.
Triadic knights are holy warriors who worship the Triad of Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater. Triadic knights trace their history back to the Fiend Wars of Impiltur (729-732 DR), when the three churches joined forces to proclaim the Triad Crusade, but they no longer comprise a single order of paladins. Triadic knights believe that to truly embody the virtues of a paladin, one must draw on the strengths of all three gods. Through courage and perseverance, Triadic knights seek justice for all.
Paladins, cleric/paladins, and clerics most commonly become Triadic knights, although many multiclass combinations including clerics and paladins are represented or have served in the past among the ranks of the Triad's holy warriors.
Depending on your base spellcasting class(es), you'll find Wisdom and/or Charisma remains your most valuable ability score. Melee combat-oriented characters should emphasize Strength and Constitution, while those specializing in unarmed combat should focus on Dexterity and Strength, and then Constitution. Spellcasters are best served by emphasizing their primary mental attribute to maximize the number of bonus spells they can cast.
Requirements
To qualify to become a Triadic Knight, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:
- Alignment: Lawful good
- Skills: Knowledge (local) 4 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 4 ranks, Knowledge (the planes) 2 ranks.
- Feats: Initiate of Ilmater, Initiate of Torm, or Initiate of Tyr; plus Endurance.
- Base Attack Bonus: +5.
- Patron Deity: Ilmater, Torm, and/or Tyr
- Special: Aura of good class feature.
Class Skills
The Triadic knight's class skills are Concentration, Craft, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, Heal, Knowledge (local) Knowledge, Knowledge (religion), Knowledge (the planes), Profession, Ride, and Sense Motive.
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The Triadic knight's class features combine elements of the paladin with defensive abilities that allow him to remain at full fighting strength even when faced with adverse conditions.
Spellcasting: At each new Triadic knight level other than 1st or 7th, you gain new spells per day and an increase in caster level (and spells known, if applicable) as if you had also gained, a level in a divine spellcasting class you belonged to before adding the prestige class. You do not, however, gain all the benefits a character of that class would have gained. If you had more than one divine spellcasting class before becoming a Triadic knight, you must decide to which class you add the new level for purposes of determining spells per day, caster level, and spells known.
Aura of Good (Ex): Your Triadic knight levels stack with other class levels that grant this ability for the purpose of determining the power of your aura of good.
Special Mount (Sp): As a Triadic knight, you gain the service of an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed. Levels of Triadic knight stack with other class levels in classes that grant this feature for the purpose of determining the special mount's abilities.
Hands of Ilmater (Su): At 2nd level and higher, you can no longer become nauseated or sickened.
Shield Other (Sp): Starting at 3rd level, you can use a shield other effect once per day; your caster level is equal to twice your class level. Triadic knights often call this ability "martyr's embrace."
Eyes of Tyr (Su): At 4th level and higher, you can no longer become dazzled or blinded (except by physical damage to your eyes).
Discern Lies (Sp): At 5th level, you become able to use a discern lies effect once per day; your caster level is equal to twice your class level. Triadic knights often call this ability "judge's insight."
Smite Evil (Su): Beginning at 5th level, you can smite evil once per day. If you already have this ability from another class, your Triadic knight class levels stack with that class's levels for the purpose of determining the extra damage dealt. For example, a 5th-level paladin/4th-level Triadic knight would deal an extra 9 points of damage with each successful smite evil attempt. Smite evil attempts per day gained from multiple sources stack.
Heart of Torm (Su): At 6th level, you gain immunity to fear.
Shout (Sp): At 7th level, you can use shout once per day; your caster level is equal to twice your class level. Triadic knights often call this ability "lion's roar."
Threefold Smite (Su): At 7th level, you can combine three smite evil attempts in a single attack. Doing this costs you three of your daily smite evil attempts; if you don't have at least three such attempts remaining, you can't use this ability. Making a threefold smite requires a full-round action and triples the bonus on damage rolls (but not on attack rolls) normally applied with a smite evil attack. For example, a 5th-level paladin/7th-level Triadic knight would deal an extra 36 points of damage (three times his effective smite evil level of 12th).
| Triadic Knight | Hit Die: d10 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CL | BAB | Fort | Ref | Will | Special | Spells |
| 1st | +1 | +2 | +0 | +0 | Aura of good, special mount | - |
| 2nd | +2 | +3 | +0 | +0 | Hands of Ilmater | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 3rd | +3 | +3 | +1 | +1 | Shield other | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 4th | +4 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Eyes of Tyr | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 5th | +5 | +4 | +1 | +1 | Discern lies, smite evil 1/day | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 6th | +6 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Heart of Torm | +1 level of existing divine spellcasting class |
| 7th | +7 | +5 | +2 | +2 | Shout, threefold smite | - |
Triadic Knights Lore
Characters with Knowledge (history) or Knowledge (religion) can research Triadic knights and find information on the Triad Crusade and its aftermath. When a character makes a skill check, read or paraphrase the following material, including the information from lower DCs.
- DC 10: Triadic knights embrace the worship of Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater, known collectively as the Triad.
- DC 15: Triadic knights can be found in large numbers as members of the Knights Kuldar in Barakmordin and as members of the Knights of Imphras II in Impiltur.
- DC 20: Triadic knights came to prominence during the Triad Crusade, called by the churches of Tyr, Torm, and Ilmater in the wake of the Weeping War (711-714 YK) to defend Old Impiltur against an invasion of newly released fiends.
- DC 30: Characters who achieve this level of success can learn important details about specific Triadic knights in your campaign.
Source: Champions of Valor